Midlands Arts Centre

This is a great place to meet up with other people with kids, simply because there's lots of space (including for buggies), changing facilities, next to the park, cafe and bar, and things to look at.

They also do lots of family activities (some free), and there's generally an exhibition of some sort of art to wonder around.

Cafe is basic but fine; they do kids food (including crudites and dips alongside sausage and mash/ fishfingers). And cake. Did I mention the cake? They do lots of cake. And real coffee. And cake.

As it's right next to Cannon Hill Park, it does get ridiculously busy on sunny days, including in the car park. And it's usually stuffed to the gills with middle class families of a weekend ... although this being mumsnet I imagine that's not really a problem?

Visited in Autumn 2012, so too wet to sample playground or pedalo boats but had some lovely and not too pricey food at the cafe, pizza really nice. No kids' size pizza available, disappointingly, but kids fish fingers, sausage and mash and, chicken nuggets and veg crudites with humous on menu for about £5.

They do have kids' theatre on as well as art/drama classes, and occasional child-friendly exhibitions but the day we went we just borrowed one of their 'Storytelling Bags' available free from reception. These are jute bags with finger puppets, tape measure and magnifying glass to play with as well as a book to record your own stories/adventures. DD (3) and I had a lovely time playing together. If you have more time you can pop to the nature centre 10mins walk through the park as well.